The Water Security Agency and the Ministry of Environment requires that at least once each year waterworks owners provide notification to consumers of the quality of water produced and supplied as well as information on the performance of the waterworks in submitting samples as required by a Minister’s Order or Permit to Operate a waterworks. The following is a summary of the Town of Asquith water quality and sample submission compliance record for the 2017 time period. This report was completed on January 26, 2018. Readers should refer to Water Security Agency’s Municipal Drinking Water Quality Monitoring Guidelines, November 2002, EPB 202 for more information on minimum sample submission requirements and the meaning of type of sample. Permit requirements for a specific waterworks may require more sampling than outlined in the department’s monitoring guidelines. If consumers need more information on the nature and significance of specific water tests, for example, “what is the significance of Selenium in a water supply”, more detailed information is available from: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/pubs/water-eau/index_e.html.

Water Quality Standards

Bacteriological Quality

Regular Samples Regular Samples # of Positive Regular

Parameter/Location Limit Required Submitted Submitted (%)

Total Coliform and 0 Organisms/100 mL ___52_____ ______52 __0%__

Background Bacteria Less than 200/100 mL

Water Disinfection –

Chlorine Residual in Distribution System for Test Results Submitted with Bacteriological Samples

Water Disinfection - Free Chlorine Residual for Water Entering Distribution System from Waterworks Records-From Water Treatment Plant Records

Test Level # Tests # Tests Not Meeting

Parameter Limit (mg/L) Range Performed Requirements

Free Chlorine Residual at least 0.1 _.48 –1.90 __365_____ ___0__

A minimum of 0.1 milligrams per litre (mg/L) free chlorine residual is required for water entering the distribution system. Tests are normally performed on a daily basis by the waterworks operator and are to be recorded in operation records. This data includes the number of free chlorine residual tests performed, the overall range of free chlorine residual (highest and lowest recorded values) and the number of tests and percentage of results not meeting the minimum requirement of 0.1 mg/L free chlorine residual.

All waterworks serving less than 5000 persons are required to submit water samples for SE’s Chemical Health category once every 2 years. The Chemical Health category includes analysis for arsenic, barium, boron, cadmium, chromium, fluoride, lead, nitrate, selenium and uranium.

The last sample for Chemical Health analysis was submitted on January 18, 2017. Sample results indicated that the provincial drinking water quality standards were not exceeded.

Limit Limit Sample # Samples

Parameter MAC(mg/L) IMAC (mg/L) Result(s) Exceeding Limit

Arsenic 0.010 0.0002 mg/L ______________ * Results expressed

Barium 1.0 0.011 mg/L ________________ as average values

Boron 5.0 0.28 mg/L ________________ for communities or

Cadmium 0.005 0.00001 mg/L ________________ waterworks that

Chromium 0.05 <0.0005 mg/L ________________ fluoridate drinking

Fluoride (avg*) 1.5 0.18 mg/L ________________ water supplies or

Lead 0.01 0.0001 mg/L ________________ those with elevated

Nitrate (avg.*) 45.0 0.07 mg/L ________________ concentrations of

Selenium 0.01 <0.0001 mg/L ________________ fluoride or nitrates.

Uranium 0.02 0.0003 mg/L

Chemical – Trihalomethanes (THMs)

Parameter THMs Sample # Samples # Samples

Limit (mg/L) Result (average) Required Submitted

Trihalomethanes 0.1 _____________ 4 (1 every 3 months) ____________

Note: Only water supplies derived from surface water or groundwater under the influence of surface water are required to monitor for THMs. Waterworks using groundwater sources beyond the influence of surface water do not need to report THMs since sampling/analysis will not likely have been performed.

General Chemical

Aesthetic Sample Results # Samples # Samples

Parameter Objectives * (mg/L) (average) Required Submitted

Alkalinity 500 364 mg/L 1 1

Bicarbonate No Objective 444 mg/L 1 1

Calcium No Objective 141 mg/L 1 1

Carbonate No Objective <1 mg/L

Chloride 250 32 mg/L 1 1

Conductivity No Objective 1440 us/cm 1 1

Hardness 800 611 mg/L 1 1

Magnesium 200 63 mg/L 1 1

PH No Objective 7.67 pH units 1 1

Sodium 300 97 mg/L 1 1

Sulphate 500 420 mg/L 1 1

Total dissolved

Solids 1500 1030 mg/L 1 1

All waterworks serving less than 5000 persons are required to submit water samples for SE’s General Chemical category once every two years if a ground water source and once per three months every second year if a surface water or blended surface/groundwater source. The General Chemical category includes analysis for alkalinity, bicarbonate, calcium, carbonate, chloride, conductivity, hardness (as CaCO3), magnesium, sodium, sulphate and total dissolved solids.

The last sample for General Chemical analysis was required on 2017 and submitted on January 18, 2017. Sample results indicated that there were no exceedences of the provincial aesthetic objectives for the General Chemical category.

*Objectives apply to certain characteristics of or substances found in water for human consumptive or hygienic use. The presence of these substances will affect the acceptance of water by consumers and/or interfere with the practice of supplying good quality water. Compliance with drinking water aesthetic objectives is not mandatory as these objectives are in the range where they do not constitute a health hazards. The aesthetic objectives for several parameters (including hardness as CaCO3, magnesium, sodium and total dissolved solids) consider regional differences in drinking water sources and quality.

More information on water quality and sample submission performance may be obtained from:

Town of Asquith, Holly Cross C.A.O.

Box 160, Asquith, SK S0K 0J0

Telephone number 306-329-4341/Facsimilie Number 306-329-4969/email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.